Blinking eye doll

ABSTRACT

A BLINKING EYE DOLL IN WHICH RESPECTIVE COILS ARE ENERGIZED TO DRAW PERMANENT MAGNET SLUGS INTO THE COILS TO DRIVE SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ACTUATORS TO MOVE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED EYE FROM OPEN TO CLOSED POSITIONS AGAINST THE ACTION OF COUNTERWEIGHTS. GRAVITY ACTIVATED AUTOMATIC CIRCUITRY ENERGIZES THE COILS TO PROVIDE A PERIODIC RAPID BLINKING ACTION OF BOTH EYES WHEN THE DOLL IS ERECT WITH BOTH ARMS DOWN AND A SLOWER WINKING ACTION OF ONE EYE WHEN THE DOLL IS ERECT AND IS OPPOSITE ARM IS RAISED.

Nov. .2, 1971- w w, 5 c EI'AL 3,616,512

BLINKING EYE DOLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1969 United States Patent Office 3,616,572 Patented Nov. 2 1971 3,616,572 BLINKIN G EYE DOLL Witold W. Kosicki, Columbia, and Charles M. Hollingsworth, West Columbia, S.C., assignors to Horseman Dolls Inc., Columbia, S.C.

Filed Nov. 18, 1969, Ser. No. 877,789 Int. Cl. A63h 3/40 US. Cl. 46235 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A blinking eye doll in which respective coils are energized to draw permanent magnet slugs into the coils to drive slidably supported actuators to move pivotally supported eyes from open to closed positions against the action of counterweights. Gravity activated automatic circuitry energizes the coils to provide a periodic rapid blinking action of both eyes when the doll is erect with both arms down and a slower winking action of one eye when the doll is erect and its opposite arm is raised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many attempts have been made in the prior art to cause a doll to simulate various movements of the human body. For example, many dolls of the prior art are provided with gravity operated eyes which open when the doll is erect and which close when the doll is laid on its back. It has been suggested that a doll of this type be provided with means which can be activated to provide a blinking movement of the eyes. One expedient which has been proposed is to place a magnet or magnetic member in the moving eye of the doll and provide external magnetic means activated by a manually operated switch to influence the magnet to cause the dolls eye or eyes to blink. One of the defects of this arrangement is the necessity for operating a switch manually in order to produce the blinking action. Children quickly become bored with the necessity for operating the switch and soon lose interest in the doll. A more serious defect, however, lies in the operating mechanism itself. Presence of a magnetic element such as a magnet in the eye of the doll adds excess weight to that structure and, for the required amplitude of movement of the eye structure to produce a realistic winking or blinking action renders operation of the system uncertain.

We have invented a blinking eye doll which overcomes the defects of blinking eye dolls of the prior art. Our blinking eye doll is automatic in that it does not require manual operation of the switch to initiate its action. Its operation is more certain than is that of blinking eye dolls of the prior art. Our system operates automatically either to produce a rapid blinking action of both of the dolls eyes or a relatively slower winking action of one eye of the doll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide a blinking eye doll which overcomes the defects of blinking eye dolls of the prior art.

Another object of our invention is to provide a blinking eye doll the operation of which is automatic.

A further object of our invention is to provide a blinking eye doll the action of which is certain.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a blinking eye doll which automatically produces a rapid blinking movement of both eyes of the doll.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a blinking eye doll which produces a relatively slow periodic winking action of one of the eyes of the doll.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a blinking eye doll in which gravity-activated automatic circuitry periodically pulses respective coils to pull permanent magnets into the coils to drive respective slidably supported actuators to move the pivotally supported eyes of the doll from open to closed position against the action of counterweights to cause a rapid blinking action of the doll when it is erect with both arms down. One arm of the doll may be raised to cause the circuitry to provide the relatively slower winking action of the opposite eye of the doll with the doll erect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper part of a doll with parts broken away and illustrating the blinking action of the doll with both arms down.

.FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper part of a doll with parts broken away and with one arm raised illustrating the winkingaction of the doll.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the doll illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale and indicating the circuitry associated with our blinking eye doll.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the eye of our blinking eye doll illustrating the relative positions of the parts with the eye closed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the eye of our blinking eye doll taken along the line 5-5 of 'FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings our blinking eye doll indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a torso 12., right and left arms 14 and 16 and a head 18 formed with respective eye openings 20 and 22. Positioned behind the eye openings 20 and 22 are respective eye assemblies the left eye assembly of which is indicated generally by the reference character 24. Since the right eye assembly is substantially identical to the left eye assembly only the left eye assembly 24 will be described in detail.

Assembly 24 includes an eye body 26 provided with a simulated eye 28 and lashes 30. The portion of the body 26 above the lashes 30 is painted with flesh tones to simulate a lid 31. Respective pivots 32 and 34 formed on the body 26 are received in journals 36 and 38 formed on a housing 40 pivotally to support a body for movement between a position at which the eye is open and the eye is closed in a manner to be described. Body 26 is formed with a counterweight 42 which normally urges the eye to open position when the doll 10 is erect. A cap 44 is provided with a peripheral bead 46- which snaps into a recess 48 in housing 40 to retain the body 26 in the housing 40. Cap 44 has an opening 50 through which the eye is visible. A plastic socket 52 secured to the head 18 holds the assembly 24 in a position behind the eye opening 22.

From the parts thus far described it will be seen that the body 26 is mounted behind opening 22 and for movement between a position at which the eye 28 can be seen through opening 22 and a position wherein the lid simulating portion 31 of the body 26 can be viewed through opening 22. With the doll erect weight 42 positions body 26 with the eye 28 behind the opening. With the doll 10 lying on its back the weight positions the body 26 with the lid portion 31 visible through the opening 22.

We provide housing 40 with an extension 56 formed with a bore 58 for slidably receiving an actuating rod 60.

3 The forward portion of the rod 60 is bent back to provide a guide portion 62 which is slidably received between guides 64 and 66 formed on the housing 40.

Our assembly includes a tubular housing 68 adapted to slide frictionally over the extension 56. Housing 68 receives a permanent magnet 70 for free sliding movement therein. We mount a spool 72 carrying a coil 74 on the housing 68 at a location intermediate the ends thereof. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow when the coil 74 is energized it draws magnet 70 into the coil to drive rod 60 to move body 26 from the open position of the eye illustrated in FIG. 3 to the closed position of the eye illustrated in FIG. 4 when the doll is erect with both arms down.

The control circuit indicated generally by the reference character 76 for our blinking eye doll includes a source of potential such as a battery 78 connected in series with a gravity-operated switch S1 to provide an emitter-collector potential for a pnp transistor 80 connected in series with a pair of voltage dividing resistors R1 and R2 across the battery and switch. Resistor R2 provides the base potential for an npn transistor 82 connected in series with the coil of the right eye assembly across the battery 78 and gravity-operated switch S1. The right eye coil is represented schematically by a resistance R3 in parallel with an inductance L1. A switch S2 connects the left eye coil 74 in parallel with resistor R3 and inductor L1. A capacitor 84 and voltage dividing resistors R4, R and R6 in series between the collector terminal of transistor 82 and the terminal of switch S1 remote from battery 78. Resistor R6 provides the base potential for transistor 80.

As is pointed out hereinabove switch S1 is a gravity operated switch of any suitable type known to the art which is closed when the doll is erect and which opens when the doll is lying on its back. Switches S2 and S3 are normally closed switches which are adapted to be opened when the dolls left arm 16 is raised. For example, a pin 86 carried by a plate 88 secured to the inside of the dolls arm may strike an actuator 90 to open switches S1 and S2 when the dolls left arm is raised.

Assuming that both transistors 80 and 82 are cut off the capacitor carries a charge and its lower plate is at battery potential. Capacitor charge gradually leaks off through R5 and R6. Ultimately potential of base of transistor 80 drops slightly below battery potential and this transistor begins to conduct. Conduction through this transistor initiates conduction through transistor 82 to cause a further lowering of potential at the lower plate of capacitor 84. This change is reflected at the base of transistor 80 and the action continues until both are driven to saturation at which time the lower plate of the capacitor is substantially at ground and the coils are energized.

Energization of the coils causes magnets 70 to be drawn into the coils to strike actuators 60 to move eye bodies 26 from the open positions to the closed positions against the action of the weights 42.

For purposes of clarity in FIG. 4 we have exaggerated the size of the coil winding and have indicated the direction of flow of current necessary to produce a flux having such a direction as will draw a magnet of the polarity shown into the coil.

After both transistors have been turned full on in the manner described a charging circuit is established for the capacitor 84 from battery 78 through the emitter to base circuit of transistor 80, through R4, through capacitor 80 and through transistor 82 to the battery. As the capacitor begins to charge the potential at the base of transistor rises and a reduction of current flow through transistor 80 results. This is reflected by a reduction in current flow through transistor 82 to cause the potential of the lower plate of capacitor 84 to rise. This action continues until both transistors are cut off and the coils are deenergized. The eyes then return to the open position under the action of the counterweights. It will be appreciated that the resultant blinking action of the eyes is extremely rapid,

4 being governed by the RC time constant of the circuit including only R4. The interval between blinks is much longer owing to the fact that we select a relatively large resistor R6.

When the left arm 16 is raised as shown in FIG. 2 switches S2 and S3 are opened so that the left eye coil is entirely out of the circuit and resistor R5 is in the circuit. Under these conditions as the circuit operates the recharging time for capacitor 84 is relatively longer so that the right eye, rather than having a short blink has a relatively longer wink. When the doll is laid on its back switch S1 opens and the blinking and winking mechanism is rendered inoperative.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a blinking eye doll which overcomes the defects of blinking eye dolls of the prior art. Our blinking eye doll is more certain in operation than are blinking eye dolls of the prior art. Our doll automatically causes a periodic blinking action of both eyes when the doll is erect and both arms are lowered. Alternatively with one arm raised an automatic winking action of the opposite eye results. The operation of our doll is entirely automatic in that it does not require manual operation of an external switch.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a doll having a torso and a head formed with an eye opening, an assembly including in combination a body provided with an eye simulating portion and a lid simulating portion, means mounting said body behind said opening for movement between an eye-open position at which said eye simulating portion is visible and an eye-closed position at which said lid simulating portion is visible through said opening, means for biasing said body to eyeclosed position, actuatable means for moving said body against the action of said biasing means from said eyeopen to said eye-closed position, means adapted to be set to actuate said moving means for different respective periods of time and means for setting said actuating means.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 including gravity responsive means for disabling said moving means when said doll is supine.

3. An assembly as in claim ll including an arm, means mounting said arm on said torso for movement between first position and a second position, means responsive to movement of said arm for actuating said setting means.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 in which said body mounting means supports said body for pivotal movement between said eye-open and eye-closed positions, and in which said biasing means comprises a counterweight carried by said body and in which said moving means comprises a rod and means mounting said rod for linear movement between a first position at which it moves said body to said eye-closed position against the action of said counterweight and a second position at which said counterweight moves said body to said eye-open position.

5. An assembly as in claim 4 in which said moving means comprises a permanent magnet, means mounting said magnet for movement between a first position at which it positions said rod in said first position of said rod and a second position at which said rod is free and energizable means for moving said magnet from said second position to said first position.

6. An assembly as in claim 5 in which said moving means comprises means for periodically energizing said energizable means.

7. An assembly as in claim 6 in which said moving means comprises means for varying the period for which said energizable means is energized.

8. In a doll having a torso and a head formed with a pair of eye openings, an assembly including in combination, a pair of bodies each provided with an eye simulating portion and a lid simulating portion, means mounting said bodies respectively behind said openings for movement between eye-open positions at which the eye simulating portions are visible and eye-closed positions at which said lid simulating portions are visible, means for biasing said bodies to said eye-open position when said torso is erect, respective rods carried by said mounting means in engagement with said bodies and for linear movement between first positions at which they urge said bodies to said eye closed positions against the action of said biasing means and second positions at which said biasing means are free to operate, respective energizable means carried by said mounting means for moving said rods from said second positions to said first positions and control means comprising actuatable means for selectively concomitantly energizing both of said energizable means or energizing only one of said energizable means.

9. An assembly as in claim 8 in which said control means comprises actuatable means for selectively concomitantly energizing both of said energizable means for a first period of time of energizing only one or said energizable means for a second period of time.

' 10. An assembly as in claim 9 in which said second time is longer than said first time.

11. An assembly as in claim 10 in which said control means operate periodically.

12. An assembly as in claim 11 including gravity responsive means for disabling said control means when said doll is supine.

13. An assembly as in claim 12 including an arm, means mounting said arm on said torso for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, and means responsive to said arm in said positions for actuating said actuatable means concomitantly to energize both said energizable means or to energize only one of said energizable means.

14. A dolls eye assembly including in combination, a housing provided with a restricted opening, a body provided with an eye-simulating portion and with a lidsimulating portion, means mounting said body Within said housing behind said opening for pivotal movement between an open-eye position at which said eye-simulating portion is adjacent said opening and a closed-eye position at which said lid-simulating portion is adjacent said opening, means for biasing said body to said open-eye position, a slug of magnetic material, means mounting said slug on said housing for movement from a first position to a second position, means on said housing responsive to movement of said slug from said first position to said second position for moving said body from said openeye position to said closed-eye position and energizable means for moving said slug from said first position to said second position. i

15. An assembly as in claim 14 in which said means responsive to movement of said slug comprises a rod extending between said slug and said body and means mounting said rod for sliding movement on said housing.

16. An assembly as in claim 15 in which said slug is a permanent magnet and in which said energizable means is a coil carried by said housing.

17. An assembly as in claim 16 in which said first position of said magnet is out of said coil and said second position of said magnet is in said coil, said magnet being positioned under the action of said biasing means out of said coil when said coil is deenergized.

18. An assembly as in claim 17 including means for periodically energizing said coil.

19. An assembly as in claim 18 including means for varying the period of energization of said coil- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,974,265 3/1961 Thoma 46-235 UX 3,154,881 11/1964 Elwell 46169 X 3,292,610 12/1966 Newman 46-169 X 3,432,963 3/1969 Brudney 46169 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46169 R mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PltQflt NO. D t d November 2,

Invntofl.) Witold W. Kosicki and Charles M. Hollingsworth It is certified that error appears in the above-idontifild patent and that aid Letters Patent are hereby corrected u shown below:

Column 5, line 24, the word "of" (second occurrence) should read or line 24, the word "or" should read of Signed and sealed this 28th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissionerof Patents Attesting Officer 

